Sarah Mitchell
The Community of Jesus is an ecumenical monastery in the Benedictine tradition. It was founded by two women, Mother Cay Andersen and Mother Judy Sorensen, and is currently led by Mother Betty Pugsley. The community is made up of 200 professed members from a wide variety of denominational backgrounds and occupations, including celibate brothers and sisters, married couples, and single adults. Members of the Community of Jesus are joined by a common commitment to love and serve God, each other, and the world. While the community incorporates aspects of both Protestant and Roman Catholic traditions in its worship, it is not exclusively Catholic. The community has been described by some as a cult, with former members alleging emotional abuse and mind control.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of community | Ecumenical monastery in the Benedictine tradition |
| Members | 200 professed members from a wide variety of denominational backgrounds and occupations, including celibate brothers and sisters, married couples, and single adults |
| Worship | Liturgy of the Hours, Saturday Choral Evensong, and Holy Eucharist on Sundays |
| Liturgy | Similar to the order of worship used in most Protestant and Roman Catholic Eucharistic liturgy |
| Lectionary | The common three-year lectionary, used by both Protestants and Roman Catholics |
| Governance | Elected Superior, the Rule of Life, and the authority of Chapter |
| Education | Most children of Community members are homeschooled by educated members of the Community |
| Financial support | "Household members" are responsible for their own financial support, but all possessions are considered to be for the benefit of the Community |
| History | Founded by Mother Cay Andersen and Mother Judy Sorensen in the 1970s |
| Allegations | Former members have alleged emotional abuse, mind control, and manipulative practices |
| Comparison to Catholic Church | Some similarities in terms of hierarchy and institutional structure, but the Community of Jesus is more ecumenical and inclusive of various denominations |
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What You'll Learn
- The Community of Jesus is an ecumenical Christian community in the Benedictine monastic tradition
- The community is governed by an elected Superior, the Rule of Life, and the authority of Chapter
- Members of the community make professions of commitment according to their Rule of Life, including vows of obedience and poverty
- The community welcomes all to join them for worship, including non-Community members and Christians from other denominations
- Former members of the Community of Jesus have alleged emotional abuse, mind control, and manipulative practices
The Community of Jesus is an ecumenical Christian community in the Benedictine monastic tradition
The community is centred around a common commitment of love and service to God, to each other, and to the world. Members make professions of commitment according to their Rule of Life, including vows of obedience, stability, and poverty. They depend on the larger Community for their welfare and place all their possessions at the service of God and the benefit of the Community. The Community of Jesus welcomes all to join them for worship, including Liturgy of the Hours, Saturday Choral Evensong, and Holy Eucharist on Sundays.
The Community of Jesus has been described by some as a cult, with former members alleging emotional abuse and mind control. There have also been allegations of abusive and authoritarian practices at a now-defunct school affiliated with the community. However, others have described positive experiences with members of the community, who seem reasonable, kind, and respectful of others' religious beliefs.
The Community of Jesus is not exclusively Catholic, although it does incorporate aspects of Catholic tradition and worship. For example, the lectionary used by the community is the common three-year lectionary used by both Protestants and Roman Catholics today. One of the resident ordained clergy, from five denominations, celebrates the Mass.
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The community is governed by an elected Superior, the Rule of Life, and the authority of Chapter
The Community of Jesus is an ecumenical monastery in the Benedictine tradition. It is a Christian community, and its members come from a wide variety of denominational backgrounds and occupations, including celibate brothers and sisters, married couples, and single adults.
> We place all our possessions at the service of God and the benefit of the Community. We consider nothing that we possess as our ‘own’ but rather, holding property in the spirit of detachment, we administer goods on behalf of one another’s needs and for the sake of the common good. This sacrifice and integration of goods gives a sense of extended family within each household and provides countless practical opportunities for ‘bearing one another’s burdens’ toward the goal of following Christ.
The Brothers and Sisters make a profession of poverty and rely on the larger Community for their welfare. The Community is supported by gifts from its members and friends.
The Community of Jesus has been described as a cult by some, with former members alleging emotional abuse and mind control. There have also been reports of the community's involvement in an affiliated school in Canada, which a Canadian judge ruled had an "abusive, authoritarian and rigid culture".
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Members of the community make professions of commitment according to their Rule of Life, including vows of obedience and poverty
The Community of Jesus is an ecumenical monastery in the Benedictine tradition, founded on Scripture and the heritage of monastic tradition. It is a community of Christians gathered to support one another in prayer, work, and fellowship. Members of the Community of Jesus are joined in a common commitment of love and service to God, to each other, and to the world.
Members of the Community of Jesus make professions of commitment according to their Rule of Life. The Rule of Life states:
> We place all our possessions at the service of God and the benefit of the Community. We consider nothing that we possess as our ‘own’ but rather, holding property in the spirit of detachment, we administer goods on behalf of one another’s needs and for the sake of the common good. This sacrifice and integration of goods gives a sense of extended family within each household and provides countless practical opportunities for ‘bearing one another’s burdens’ toward the goal of following Christ.
The Brothers and Sisters make a profession of poverty and depend on the larger Community for their welfare. The Community is supported by gifts from its members and friends.
The evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience were first made in the 12th century by Francis of Assisi and his followers, the first of the mendicant orders. These vows are now made by the members of all religious institutes founded subsequently. Members of religious institutes confirm their intention to observe the evangelical counsels by vows accepted by the superior of the religious institute in the name of the Church.
Christ's advice in the evangelical counsels is that to make sure of everlasting life and to conform to the Divine will, we should sell our possessions and give the proceeds to others in need, live a life of chastity for the Gospel's sake, and not seek honours or commands but place ourselves under obedience.
The Community of Jesus includes celibate brothers and sisters, married couples, and single adults. Those seeking to join the Community of Jesus would go through a period of mutual discernment from a Vocation Discernment Team, a Formation Director, and the Superior, before pursuing the steps of postulancy and novitiate for an extensive time, prior to making a simple profession.
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The community welcomes all to join them for worship, including non-Community members and Christians from other denominations
The Community of Jesus is an ecumenical monastery in the Benedictine tradition, with a mission to be a faithful witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a Christian community, with members from a wide variety of denominational backgrounds and occupations, including celibate brothers and sisters, married couples, and single adults.
The Community of Jesus is governed by an elected Superior, the Rule of Life, and the authority of the Chapter. Members make professions of commitment according to their Rule of Life, which includes vows of obedience, stability, and poverty. They depend on the larger Community for their welfare and are supported by gifts from members, friends, and Priory Books & Gifts. Household members are responsible for their own financial support, but they hold property and goods in the spirit of detachment, administering them for the common good.
The Community of Jesus has been described by some as a cult, with former members alleging emotional abuse and mind control. There have also been allegations of abusive and authoritarian practices at a now-defunct Community of Jesus-affiliated school in Canada. However, others have shared positive experiences and interactions with members of the Community, describing them as reasonable, kind, and respectful of personal boundaries regarding religion.
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Former members of the Community of Jesus have alleged emotional abuse, mind control, and manipulative practices
The Community of Jesus is an ecumenical monastery in the Benedictine tradition, with members from a wide variety of denominational backgrounds and occupations. Members of the community are joined in a common commitment of love and service to God, to each other, and to the world.
The court found that the school had adopted the ideas and practices of the Community of Jesus, including confrontation and "tough love" to correct sinful ways of thinking and behaving. The Community of Jesus doctrine became the foundation for the school's approach to discipline and religious instruction, with staff members taking lifetime vows to join the Community and paying 10% of their salaries to the community.
The Community of Jesus was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, and the community's attorney denied any wrongdoing, stating that the allegations were offensive and outrageous. However, the court ruling and former members' allegations raise concerns about the practices and culture within the Community of Jesus, suggesting a history of manipulative and controlling behavior.
These allegations are particularly concerning given the vulnerable nature of the individuals involved and the potential for long-lasting harm. Religious abuse can lead to serious psychological trauma, emotional distress, loss of faith, and even physical harm. It is important for religious communities to be aware of the signs of religious abuse and to take active steps to prevent it.
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Frequently asked questions
The Community of Jesus is an ecumenical monastery in the Benedictine tradition. Members of the Community of Jesus are joined in a common commitment of love and service to God, to each other, and to the world.
The Community of Jesus is an ecumenical Christian community in the Benedictine monastic tradition. While it is not exclusively Catholic, it does have Catholic influences. For example, the lectionary used by the Community of Jesus is the common three-year lectionary, which is used by Roman Catholics.
The Community of Jesus has around 200 professed members from a wide variety of denominational backgrounds and occupations, including celibate brothers and sisters, married couples, and single adults.
The Community of Jesus is founded upon Scripture and the heritage of monastic tradition. They place a strong emphasis on community, commitment, and service. Members of the Community make professions of commitment according to their Rule of Life, including vows of obedience, stability, and poverty. They also place all their possessions at the service of God and the benefit of the Community.
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